The previously reviewed microplane grater requires less force than an old-style grater by virtue of being sharper, but I don't know if it would make enough difference. Still, if you have a friend or neighbor who might lend you one to try you might find it easy enough for small portions.http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000252.php

Back to the original problem. Part of the problem is that you are relying on one hand to hold the grater and the other hand to hold the cheese. There are several solutions to this. One is hire someone to do it for you. Another is to get a suction cup cheese grater like this:

A third option that my grandmother loved was a wooden jig that my grandfather had made for her to hold a standard flat cheese grater in place over a plate. It was like a square box with notches cut out for the grater and little rubber feet on the bottom. She could use both hands to hold the cheese and run it across the grater, and then remove the grater for washing when she was done.

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